The Inn looks new, especially when compared with the other inns in town. However, housekeeping leaves a lot to be desired. In 4 days the rooms were never vacuumed, the bathrooms were never cleaned and we had to make special requests for toilet paper and tissues and towels.

I stayed here my first two nights of a 9 night trip. You can walk to the airport from here since it's across the street. I had room 104 which is right by the lobby and windows to the front, facing the airport so it's a bit noisy when planes take off, but not bad.

The rooms were very clean, neat and well decorated. The lobby is warm and there is a computer with decent enough internet service (it's not good anywhere in town). I had no trouble checking in and the staff was very friendly. I did not meet the owners. I also didn't mind removing my shoes upon entering the lobby. The floors were clean and warm.

I would definitely stay here again. I cannot compare the KE to any other hotels in Barrow, since I then stayed at the Department of Energy's ARM Duplex. You have to be on official travel and associated with DOE, NOAA or DOI to stay there. I did not stay at other public lodging in Barrow.

The KI is a nice, clean, relatively affordable (for Barrow) place to stay. It's also almost directly across the road from the Alaska Airlines terminal, so you can walk there without much ado and not have to get a cab for that distance.

When you're in the place, you have to take your shoes off and leave them at the foot of the stairs near the door. This is annoying to say the least, particularly when the rest of the floor is wet and/or you actually like wearing shoes, particularly in the winter. But hey, it's clean, it's relatively quiet, and the rooms are nice. Someone mentioned the heat...yes, the heat is an issue (go figure), and I usually wind up opening a window, even a crack at -30, to keep the room bearable.

Note there is one snazzy fireplace suite, which I'm sure costs a fortune, but should you have the notion in your head of spending a romantic night in Barrow that's the room to book.

The owners seem generally more intersted in your money than service, so don't expect gracious chatter about how glad they are to see you...simply a "Credit card please?" is all you should hope for. More than that and you're in a rare place in time and space.

But all in all, the KI is the best joint in Barrow, albeit not close to the center of town and not very convinient in terms of going to meetings or getting work accomplished.

Very nice considering the choices. Free wi-fi internet and right across the street from the airport.